Seeing that Yuanzhi was in a hurry, Sima Hu hurriedly spoke out to convince him.

"The emperor doesn't have to worry too much, in fact, the matter is not as serious as you think."

After saying that, he glanced at Su Youyi, Su Youyi bowed slightly, and Sima Hu explained to Yuan Zhi, "The position of the waiter in the Ministry of Works is vacant, and there must be someone on top." It stands to reason that unless the Queen Mother or the Emperor directly refers to a person in the past, this position is decided by the Ministry of Industry internally, and which outsider will be put on the top. Generally speaking, it depends on who has the longest experience. ”

Yuan Zhi nodded, "I remember, whoever waits for this position first will be given to whoever is the first, and now most of the candidates for the six departments are like this." ”

Sima Hu nodded, "That's what the emperor said." ”

Yuan Zhi suddenly frowned, "Then this gift-giver is the oldest foreigner?" ”

Sima Hu said: "The minister has already checked, not only is he not the oldest man, but he is also the youngest of the most foreigners." Queen Mother, Your Majesty, how can he afford to pay more than 100,000 taels of silver to bribe? is because he is a merchant's son, his father and brother are imperial merchants named in the household department, and there is no wealth next to the family, so he is willing to spend money to buy officials. ”

Imperial merchants?

Su Youyi has always known about this, but the imperial merchant is not a serious official of the imperial court, and he couldn't get into her eyes before.

Now that she heard Sima Hu mention it, she was a little interested.

"Are the imperial merchants so rich? Where do they get the oil and water? ”

Yuan Zhi also didn't know anything about this, and looked at Sima Hu curiously.

Sima Hu, who has always been outspoken, also showed a slightly embarrassed look.

He paused, "I can't hide it, in order to find out about this matter, the minister also went to find out about the situation of the father and brother in this person's family who are named imperial merchants in the household department." His family was originally wealthy, and he was recruited by the household department to do some comprador things, as for the oil and water in it...... The minister said it was not good. But I heard that his family became richer after becoming an imperial merchant. ”

It was rare for Sima Hu to say such a tactful word.

But Su Youyi and Yuan Zhi are not stupid, they have already heard it, "Even if you become richer after becoming an imperial businessman, you must not have lost the oil and water of the imperial court." As for the oil and water of the ordinary people, they have the identity of imperial merchants, so they are naturally more unscrupulous. ”

Sima Hu didn't follow what he said.

After all, he doesn't understand, he can't guess at will, what he understands is just the outsider who bought the official, and it is his ethics as an imperial historian to talk about things.

Yuan Zhi turned the conversation back again, "According to what Master Sima said, the 100,000 taels of silver are in Su Qing's hands, and Su Qing can give him the position of the waiter of the Ministry of Works?" ”

"Yes, this document has proved that the new squire proposed by the Ministry of Industry is indeed this person."

Yuan Zhi snorted coldly and said: "So, from the Shangshu to the squire, the clerks and the chief clerk, all listened to Su Qing's words and didn't dare to resist?" ”

"Not really."

Su Youyi then spoke: "This Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry was originally friendly with Su Qing, he accepted the 100,000 taels of silver, and divided 20,000 or 30,000 yuan to this Shangshu Lord, this Shangshu Lord can also give him a personal favor if he has the silver, why not?" At most, Lord Shangshu will divide another serving squire with a few thousand silver, and that squire naturally does not dare to say more. ”

"As for the staff and clerks below, they either dare to be angry but dare not speak, and they are soft-spoken. Or you still want to get an errand in the Ministry of Industry, how can you offend your boss? ”

Sima Hu arched his hand and said: "The Queen Mother is wise, it is true." Therefore, in this case of embezzlement and bribery of Mai Guan and Mai Guan, one is Su Qing, and the other is the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and they cannot escape his crime. There are also several cases, so the ministers won't say them one by one, the emperor has only seen the evidence of the crime, and he should know it in his heart. ”

Motoji's face doesn't look good anymore.

Su Youyi sighed slightly in her heart, she didn't know what Yuan Zhi was thinking at this moment, was she willing to let Su Qing go like every time before, or couldn't help it anymore?

She didn't ask.

He should always be given some time to think.

She turned her head and asked Sima Hu, "Master Sima, there is something that the mourning family wants to ask you." Su Qing and you have been friends for many years, and now you are here to denounce him...... Can you give it up? ”

Sima Hu smiled bitterly.

This question was also asked to himself over and over again. Since the Queen Mother sent a secret letter to the minister to return to Beijing from the place, the minister has been thinking about this problem. The queen mother wants the minister to come back and stare at him Su Qing, but can the minister really do it? ”

"Originally, the minister thought that he couldn't do it, but as the evidence of the crime was collected little by little, the minister understood that he would do it if he couldn't do it."

Su Youyi narrowed her eyes slightly.

Sima Hu breathed a long sigh of relief, "He is acting so perversely now, using his power for personal gain, he is no longer the Brother Su I know." If he is allowed to go on like this in the court, how many incorruptible courtiers will be harmed, and how many innocent people will be harmed? When Brother Su and I were in the countryside when we were young, we deeply hated Li Ge's old party for fighting against each other, so that our poor backgrounds had no future. ”

"Later, the first emperor promoted the two of us to the court to deal with Li Ge Lao, and the two of us hated such powerful ministers who used power for personal gain. Now he himself has become such a man, called a minister...... How can you still treat him as a close friend?! ”

These words were said thoroughly, and Su Youyi had no worries in her heart.

Only then did she look at Motoji.

Yuanzhi was also looking at her, some expectation, and some want to say something.

Su Youyi smiled and encouraged him, "If the emperor has anything to say, just say it directly, Lord Sima is not an outsider, he is the father of his pure sister." ”

Yuanzhi originally wanted to wait for only the two of him to say to Su Youyi in private, but since Su Youyi said so, he couldn't care about it.

"What does the queen mother plan to do with Su Qing this time? In the past, there was no evidence, but last year's incident was so bad that it was gently let go because there was no evidence. Now the evidence is conclusive...... Mother, what are you going to do with it? ”

Su Youyi expected him to ask like this.

Yuan Zhi asked her like this, obviously because his patience with Su Qing had reached the bottom line, and he couldn't tolerate it anymore.

Why not?

Su Youyi said: "How to deal with this matter, how to deal with it." But don't be in a hurry, Lord Sima—"

Sima Hu stood up from his seat.

Su Youyi said: "I want you to continue to collect evidence of the crime and closely monitor the people who come and go to Su Mansion to give gifts during this time." The mourning family will also let Duofu send someone to watch and help you. Since this matter must be dealt with thoroughly, there must be sufficient evidence, and it must not be tolerated. ”

Sima Hu bowed and arched his hand, "Yes, the minister will definitely not live up to the expectations of the Queen Mother." ”

Seeing Sima Hu go out, Yuanzhi's blood was boiling, and he couldn't wait to ask Su Youyi, "Queen Mother, what can I do?" Or, what should I do now? ”